Paul is insufferable

I feel like this is GBBO heresy, but Paul really annoys me. I love GBBO so much, from season 1 to now. And over the last few years, I've noticed more and more how insufferable Paul has become.

He's gotten a puffed up ego. I think it stems from him being the only person in the tent that's been there since season 1. I understand that he's a talented baker and there's a level of star status that the bakers get excited about. In the earlier seasons, Mary and Paul were equals as judges and the bakers were equally invested in impressing both of them. Mary stood her ground against Paul when they disagreed and it felt like a collaborative decision. But since he stayed and Prue came in, it seems like he's the only one bakers try to impress and no one cares quite as much what Prue thinks. Prue gets a quick second to say what she thinks (usually after Paul gives his long-winded opinion), but then Paul's opinion is the one that's weighed most when evaluating bakers' performances.

An excellent example of that is the "Hollywood Handshake". Again, I get the excitement for the bakers, it's high praise from a judge, but it hypes up his opinion over Prue's (who is equally talented and qualified as a judge). The Hollywood Handshake is his way of saying that he considers it a perfect bake, but it's gotten to the point where is detracts from the baker and puts the attention back on Paul. (i.e. everyone gasps that Paul gave a handshake; when discussing the bakers performances, "you gave ___ a handshake", "I can't believe I gave out 3 handshakes".) He comes across egotistical and like he sees himself as The Baking God whose word is gospel.

My favorite reaction ever to Paul's brooding is Marshawn Lynch's during Celebrity Holiday Bake Off 2022. (see gif)

TLDR: Paul needs some humility and I'd take some Prue Praise over a Hollywood Handshake any day of the week.